TORONTO — Human Cargo, CBC's searing two-part miniseries that took an uncompromising look at the world's refugee misery and Canada's role in it, is leading the pack for the 19th annual Gemini Awards, with 17.

Close behind with 15 nods is the CBC legal series This Is Wonderland with 15, CTV's look behind the scenes at a TV news magazine, The Eleventh Hour, with 12 and CBC's venerable west coast crime series Da Vinci's Inquest with 10.

Other top nominees include CBC's Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion, the Paul Gross premium cable miniseries Slings & Arrows and CBC's sketch comedy show This Hour Has 22 Minutes, all tied in fifth place with nine nominations each.

The awards, administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, honour the finest in home-grown television production and will be handed out at the usual three nights of galas, Dec. 11, 12 and 13, the final black-tie event to be telecast live by CBC.

"The Academy congratulates all the nominees who bring tremendous quality to our home-grown television,'' says Maria Topalovich, president and CEO of the Academy.

"This year we're thrilled to be presiding over such an impressive display of immense talent, great programming and international hits.''

Gross has snagged his 14th nomination for his performance in the Shakespearean-themed Slings & Arrows while the 22 Minutes ensemble is in contention for the eleventh time.

The cast of the now-defunct TV industry satire Made In Canada has also been recognized for the eighth time. Other veteran nominees include Michael Riley (for This Is Wonderland), Brent Carver (Elizabeth Rex) and Kate Nelligan (for Human Cargo). Also Catherine Disher (the abruptly cancelled political drama series Snakes & Ladders), Megan Follows (the CBC medical thriller Open Heart) and the cast from Showcase's The Trailer Park Boys all got their fourth Gemini nominations.

But there are newcomers in the race, too.

Bayo Akinfemi is a first-time nominee for Human Cargo, as are Nicholas Lea for CTV's The Investigation, Vincent Walsh for Shattered City, Diane D'Aquila for Elizabeth Rex, Martha Burns for Slings & Arrows, Cara Pifko, star of This Is Wonderland, Tracy Waterhouse for Global's cop drama Blue Murder and the ensemble cast of CTV's breakout comedy Corner Gas.

Last Wednesday, the Academy released a preliminary list of nominees, covering news, sports and documentaries. Nominations included CBC coverage of the federal Conservative leadership convention, CTV's coverage of the Ontario blackout and Global's reports on the B.C. forest fires. Canada's three main network news anchors -- CBC's Peter Mansbridge, CTV's Lloyd Robertson and Global's Kevin Newman -- will also duke it out as best national anchor.

Some of the leading nominees for the 19th Annual Gemini Awards:

Best TV Movie or Dramatic Miniseries: Cowboys and Indians -- The Killing of J.J. Harper; Elizabeth Rex; Human Cargo; The Incredible Mrs. Ritchie; Open Heart.

Best Dramatic Series: Bliss III; Da Vinci's Inquest; The Eleventh Hour; The Shields Stories; Slings & Arrows; Snakes & Ladders.

Best Comedy Program or Series: Corner Gas, The Newsroom; Puppets Who Kill; The Red Green Show; This Hour Has 22 Minutes; Trailer Park Boys.

Best Actor in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries: Bayo Akinfemi (Human Cargo); Nicholas Campbell (Human Cargo); Brent Carver (Elizabeth Rex); Nicholas Lea (The Investigation); Vincent Walsh (Shattered City).

Best Actress in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries: Diane D'Aquila (Elizabeth Rex); Megan Follows (Open Heart); Kate Nelligan (Human Cargo).

Best Actor in a Continuing Dramatic Role: Nicholas Campbell (Da Vinci's Inquest); Shawn Doyle (The Eleventh Hour); Paul Gross (Slings & Arrows); Michael Riley (This Is Wonderland); Jeff Seymour (The Eleventh Hour).

Best Actress in a Continuing Dramatic Role: Martha Burns (Slings & Arrows); Catherine Disher (Snakes & Ladders); Cara Pifko (This Is Wonderland); Waneta Storms (The Eleventh Hour); Tracy Waterhouse (Blue Murder).

Best Performance in a Comedy Program or Series: Gavin Crawford (The Gavin Crawford Show); Gavin Crawford (This Hour Has 22 Minutes); Roman Danylo (Comedy, Inc.); Shaun Majumder (Comedy From the Coast); Russell Peters (Comedy Now).